Board of Education Meeting 2/26/19

001I'd like to call the meeting to order. >> A moment of silence, please. >> All rise for the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So exciting. In accordance with the provisions of the open public meeting act, a public notice of this meeting has been sent to board members, all district schools, the Herald news, the trends, the record, the messenger, West Milford town, West Milford town hall, the county superintendent's office, the board attorney and cable vision of Warwick and posted in the administration building. Copies of the board meeting calendar of resolution were provided to all local media, town hall, township, library, and all district schools. Roll call. Mrs. Francisco, >>

002Mrs. Romeo here. >> Mr. Caitto >> here, >> Mr. Drew. Mrs. Dwire >> here. >> Mr. Gino, Mrs. Fritz, >> Mr. Oinsky here, >> Mrs. O'Brien, Mrs. Van Dyke >> here. >> Dr. >> All right. Good even good evening everybody. Welcome to our work uh regular meeting of February 2019. Uh first up on our superintendent report. We have about I think I last count 535 or 538 school districts in the state of New Jersey and there's only a select few people that are named exemplary elementary educators throughout the state. Uh we're very fortunate to h very fortunate to have one of those people working here in our community. Uh Stephanie Primava, our principal of Apua school. As you can tell by the audience, there's a lot of red here and even some Aptua people not

003wearing red. Um so I would say probably 90% of our audience today is Apua families, teachers, and even some students here. So um one of our loveliest schools and we're really fortunate to have Miss Perea. So the state notified us a couple weeks ago that she was given this award. We were going to do this in January, but we were snowed out. So uh on behalf of the board of education, on behalf of the parents and students and staff of Apua School, I'd like to present Mrs. Primava with this plaque. And I think she wants to say a couple words. [Applause] So, they're all kind of taking bets on when I start tearing up because uh I've nicknamed myself the crying principal. Um I and all happy tears. I don't get through many things um

004being emotional because I'm just so passionate about being here. So, I'm so very honored and humbled to be named the 2018 exemplary educator of the New Jersey by the New Jersey Department of Education. It is a privilege to join such a remarkable and distinguished group of educators who represent the best that the state of New Jersey has to offer. There are so many outstanding, passionate, creative leaders throughout the state who challenge, inspire, and support their school community every day. To join this group of remarkable educators is not an honor I take lightly. I would like to thank my present and past mentors, Dr. Anamon, Mr. Novak, Dr. Mr. McUade, Mr. Rashika, and Mr. Cardinell for believing in me and contributing to the application process as I know was it was an extensive one. Each and

005every day I lead my school community with my students best interests at heart. I am very fortunate to work with such a supportive faculty who are passionate about education and dedicated to cultivating an environment where children feel safe, happy, and confident. So good for you. Also, I would not be standing here without my amazing colleagues from whom I have learned so much. The continued support and encouragement I receive from Dr. Anamone, Mr. Novak, Dr. Mcuade, and Mrs. Francisco is directly correlated to my success as a leader. Thank you to the West Milford Board of Education for all of the time and effort you give to ensure the children of West Milford have the best educational experiences possible. Lastly, but certainly not least, thank you to my family who put up with me, continue to support

006me and all of my dreams every step of the way. It is an honor to stand in front of the board tonight and be recognized for my achievements. There's an African proverb that states, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others. I continue to find much success as a leader because I am part of this incredible school community. I am growing and learning every day and I am humbled that I get to do this in my hometown. It has been an honor and a privilege to grow both personally and professionally in the community I call home. And I mean it. Thank you. Thank you very much. This really means everything. So, thank you. >> We want We want to thank you, Stephanie. You do such a

007wonderful job and you are a glowing example of what what represents West Milford and the administrators and the staff members that we have here in the district. Thank you for making us shine. Thank you. Thank you, Stephanie. I know your kids are looking to get out of here and go get a bite. So, uh, we are going to read a resolution later on in the agenda, but I promise you don't have to stay for all that. So, thank you again for everything you do. [Applause] >> Um, monthly progress. >> Okay. All right. All right, I gave you a minute to sneak out, but you didn't. >> Now you're back. >> Um, so just a monthly uh progress toward district goals. We've been talking a lot about math these past few years. And I just do

008have some uh one major note to uh inform the board upon uh next year for the first time uh probably in district history, we're going to be offering algebra 1 uh algebra one course to seventh graders. So, historically, uh, it's been offered to eighth graders and then the students who don't take in eighth grade take it in ninth grade. Next year, we're going to start another gifted track for our current sixth grade class. We're going to have an assessment process in place between now and at some point in the spring where we're going to screen our students to create. We don't know how many sections. We're anticipating probably one section of algebra 1 for seventh graders. Those students will take geometry in grade 8 and they're enter they will enter high school as freshman taking

009algebra 2 and they'll finish up as seniors most likely taking calc BC which is a course that if you want to attend one of the more rigorous one more more highly competitive universities that's a course they like to see on your transcript. So we look forward to that next year the process begins now we're starting to look at students our sixth graders in all six of our district schools to see who qualifies. >> Yes. Did was the sequence of the math change? Because I know it used to be algebra 1, geometry, and then algebra 2. >> That's still the same sequence, but the years you the year you take it, it's going to change. So, >> Oh, okay. >> You're going to take it in the same order, but some students are going to start

010algebra 1 and seventh. Some will probably start in eighth, and some might even not take it until freshman year of high school. >> Okay. Depending. >> Sounds like the sequence changed. Okay. Thank you. Uh secondly, um we have just recently released by the department of ed the 201718 school performance report. These are always one year uh in in reverse. So the 201718 school performance report was released the other day. However, it's embargoed yet so we can't release it to the public, but we will be reviewing it at our administrative council meeting tomorrow and then we'll be discussing with the board. Probably by next month it should be able to take this information public. Um it'll be in the newspapers as They usually give us a week or two to look at the data before it

011hits the newspapers. So, um we can expect that in March here. And secondly, ReadAcross America week is this week. Dr. Seuss's birthday, I believe, is Saturday. >> Yes, it is. >> So, it's a weekend birthday. Uh usually the schools pick either the week before or the week after Dr. Seuss's birthday for ReadAcross America week. I know Mr. Sidowitz, Mrs. Dwire. Um I've already read to their students and other board members will be taking visits to our elementary schools this week or next to read to our students. >> Okay. Um Kelsey is not here this evening. Uh Mr. Novak. >> All right. Uh good evening again. Uh congratulations to Mrs. Prima Vera and and the entire Aptua community. Wore my Apua red not realizing it, but it looks like it works out. And uh I did

012have a jacket, but Dr. Grandma spilled coffee all over it earlier, so uh I was able to bring it out. >> I'm glad you gave the blame to the right person. >> Uh I do have a couple items that are that are off script. Um the first one is there was a uh Honeywell uh sent at about 6:30 tonight. Um once again, uh highlighting our uh digital citizenship event we're taking a little bit differently uh this year and we sent a plea out to the community. So, I want to uh make sure we have it on camera tonight and talk to the people in the uh audience to um look for and and uh interact with that uh Honeywell because it was looking for uh posit positive examples of digital citizenship within the community. It

013was a Google form. It was a nomination form to find those people who do great things uh out there in the world. Uh just to highlight one, we have a group in town called Help a Neighbor. I know there's probably some people in the room who are part of that group. It's a group not looking for accolades, not looking for a pat on the back, just doing great work. So, those are the types of things we're looking for in the community. Those are the types of things that we are trying to inspire in our students when we host things like digital citizenship night. Um, too often we see the Facebook groups and the things that happen in the community that just tear things down and and um you know um just fester on on the

014on the bad. Um so, we're looking to um you know, shift that and hopefully highlight the good in the community. we know it's there. Um we just don't talk about it enough. So, uh that came out tonight. There's a nomination form. So, please do your best, find those people and and have them apply and we're going to honor them at uh digital citizenship night and probably at a future uh future board meeting. Um secondly, along the same lines, um our work in digital citizenship also works with our um goals handinhand with character education. We had a great opportunity today at the high school to sit with the um uh the review panel from the national uh national character education forum to uh review our high school and and take a look at the things that

015we've been doing uh over the years. So, it was a a great opportunity. I've I've been involved in a number of those meetings over the years at our elementaryaries and at Makipin. It was nice to sit at the high school and be able to talk about the um the good work and the deliberate attempts over the last few years to really um put some great things in place and highlight the good work that's going on there. So, it was uh it was a nice good feel uh um good event. Uh Dr. Ann was there. We were able to um you know really talk about that that building. Uh moving on, um I'm doing a brief overview of our of our PD day. I know we have a a training to um you know with our

016ethics training coming up. So, I'm going to be relatively brief or attempt to be uh we uh plan an elaborate um professional development day for our staff. We have um you know, one of our buildings well represented here today. We were able to allow our um elementary schools to um stay in their home building and work in their rooms on some of the district initiatives that we had in place. um they worked on uh some of our efforts in readers and writers workshop training which we've talked about a lot in here as well as um getting in groups and and discussing uh some of the work we've had in in uh STAR math and looking at student goals and objectives and and that sort of thing at the uh high school level for our um

017high school and middle school for our core core departments. We had a uh co-eing training where we had a presenter come in and speak to um that large group in the auditorium as a starting point for a lot of the work that we're going to be talking about going forward where we're looking to enhance our um cooperative teaching uh relationships and and um those co-teer uh co-teer relationships with general education special education uh working hand inand. So we had a good turnout. Um we had a a busy day. staff worked hard and feedback has been um you know pretty good to this point for for our our goals and and uh process going forward. And uh that's my brief report. >> Oh, thank you very much. I have a question. >> I have a question.

018Um on the star map, um have there been any problems with reports going home? >> Um sure. Um yeah. Um >> not a problem per se. It was a >> no it's just >> plan. So what ended up happening the uh Renaissance program that creates Starmath they um did an upgrade to their platform and when they upgraded their uh software platform they changed all of the settings and they happened to do this in the last week of our marking period. >> Okay. >> So our typical report time is to send home the parent report with our report cards. We we have them aligned that way. Uh we weren't able to send the reports with report cards but they were out um they did come home last Thursday or Friday I believe. Um and in that

019process we had to work with the company. We had to adjust our settings. We had a change in um the benchmark um the benchmark relationship between the scores and our comparison. So in the past we used to send home a um a score report that was based on the benchmark against students in West Milford. The report that goes home now benchmarks our students against the state. Um we were happy to see some um you know some positive correlations and we also had some adjustments that our um our staff has done a great job with with taking a look at and and going through those things. So >> so so families have been notified that the glitch has been fixed. It's not wasn't a >> wasn't a glitch. >> So, yeah, we adjusted to the upgrade

020from the Renaissance um uh Renaissance company. Okay. >> And it's all been sent out and the last report that came out is actually pretty good. We've been talking about it for a few years. And now you're able to see as a parent, I'm sure there's people in the room have seen it. Uh I hope that there's about seven points on our line now where you can track a student over two years. um you know being able to see the the growth in relationship to um scaled score and national percentile rank and and that type of thing. Uh it arms our uh our educators and our administrators with a little bit of a finer tuned look at a at a student's uh academic pro progress in mathematics. >> Okay. Thank you. Anybody have anything? Okay. Uh

021Mrs. Francisco, special reports. >> The minutes from reorganization heard and our meeting on January 22nd are available for consideration. >> I need a motion. >> Move to accept the me the minutes of the January 3rd executive session and the workshop and executive session on January 22nd. Second. >> Um all those in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? We're a little short now. I'm going to I I have no uh president's report tonight. I did just give a slight update at the last meeting this month. We have an extra meeting um that we a number of board members did their uh training. We um will and Terry and I also did a leadership training this month through New Jersey School Board. And then as of course as part of my report will be later on this

022evening we have uh Kathy Hela our our field representative from New Jersey school boards coming to do our um presentation on ethics on the code of ethics. That's a presentation that we normally do once a year. This year we were supposed to do it on January 29th and unfortunately we had to cancel cancel the meeting due to snow. So she's coming this evening but we had to rearrange her. She had to come. She has to come a little later. So, we're going to do the bulk of the meeting first and then she should be here for the presentation. Um, other than that, I have nothing else. >> Stephanie, I think if you leave, everybody else will follow you. >> They're waiting for you. >> Waiting for a good time. >> Yeah. This is This is

023it. Everybody, >> should we take a >> while you guys? >> Do you want me to take an interview? >> Should we take a break? >> Yeah. Uh, all right. We're going to take it from >> We're We're just going to take a 5m minute break so everyone can get it in and out and rearrange everything. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry for winning a prestigious award. >> Oh, it's all Mrs. Leslie's fault. >> Big shoulders. Members of the public who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be first for five minutes for each speaker for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited to 5 minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute time period transpires. All members of the public speaking during public comment

024are asked to address the topics listed in the agenda. All speakers are asked to give their full name, spell their last name, and provide their address. Speakers may not use the name of students during public comment. Anyone wishing to speak under public comment? >> Move to move to close public comment. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? All right. All right. So, I need a motion to adopt the agenda. I move to adopt the agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Now, can um uh Mrs. Dwer, you're up for education, please. >> Okay. Um move to adopt to approve items 1 through nine and hand carry number 10. Um, shall I read the resolution for Mrs. Prima Vera? >> Yes, please.

025>> Okay. >> The superintendent and West Milford Board of Education on behalf of the community community publicly oh publicly acknowledges and expresses its sincerest appreciation to Stephanie Prima Vera, principal of Apua School for being named as exemplary elementary educator by the state of New Jersey department of education. the rem the recommendation of the superintendent to approve the submission of the comprehensive equity plan for the school year. Oh, wait a minute. Yeah. Okay. The Oh, >> no. There's no The next thing is the rec the schools. >> Oh, yes. >> Yeah, it's the um Okay. >> Then Okay. The committee of the superintendent to adopt the following resolution proclaiming March 2019 is music in our school month. Whereas the study of music contributes to young people's development through heightened skills in listening, reading, self-expression, and creativity.

026And whereas music education in the schools includes a broad range of types of music and active musical experiences. And whereas music and the other arts significantly enhance the morale and quality of the school environment. And whereas it is stated it is the stated objective of the public school to prepare children for a productive role in our society. And whereas the national whereas what does this say name >> just I think it's a title. >> Okay. Whereas the national association for music education has designated March as music in our schools month focusing on the theme all music all people. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of education of West Milford Township endorses the observance of music in our schools month as an opportunity to support the purpose and practices of music education and encourages

027teachers, parents, students, and all citizens to participate. The board of education of the West Milford School District, for its own part, rededicates itself to the maintenance of a music education program that will be relevant to the needs of the children placed in its care and will reach and positively influence each child that this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the public meeting of the West Milford Board of Education held on February 26, 2019. And we also have a resolution for the art Youth Art Month, >> right? >> Okay. The recommendation of the superintendent to adopt the following resolution proclaiming March 2019 as youth art month. Whereas art education contributes powerful educational benefits to all elementary and secondary students, including the following. Art education develops students creative problem solving and critical thinking abilities. Art education

028teaches sensitivity to beauty, order, and other expressive qualities. Art education gives students a deeper understanding of world cultures, values, and beliefs. Art education reinforces and brings to life what students learn in other subjects. And art education integrates students learning in art production, art history, art criticism and aesthetics, philosophy. And whereas our national leaders have acknowledged the necessity of including arts experiences on all students education. Therefore, be it resolved that support should be given to art educators as they attempt to strengthen art education in their schools and communities. Now therefore, it is proclaimed that March be observed as Youth Art Month, focusing on the theme Great New Day in the schools of the West Milford School District. And this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the public meeting of the West Milford Board of Education

029held February 26th, 2019. >> Thank you. >> I thought we were going to have a resolution. >> I definitely I did. I see. I know. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. Any discussion? >> You know what? I think we need to read the one because it's a hand carry. >> Okay. Move to approve the superintendence resolution. resolved that the board approve a payment of $300 to the Morris Hills Regional School District representing tuition for student ID68195 to attend the Mars Hills Adult High School for the period retroactive from January 28th, 2019 through May 27th, 29 2019 accordance with the terms of the release agreement signed by the students parent which is incorporated by reference herein. And this was read because it's a hand carry and it was not on the agenda. >> So, okay. Any discussion? >>

030Second. >> All right. Roll call. Mrs. Francisco. >> Yeah. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sawitz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Yes. Okay. Um Kate, would you like to move the personnel items, please? >> Sure. I'd like to make a motion to move items one through six and personnel. >> Second. >> Any discussion on the items? >> If not, Mrs. Francisco. Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Ber. >> Yes. >> Mr. Swood. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh >> oh. There's a hand carry also. >> Yes. Hand. Oh, I'm sorry. The blue one. >> You need to make a motion for carry number one. Personnel >> number seven. >> Oh, hand carry number one. number seven. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, that's

031good. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Read it. >> Uh, the recommendation of the superintendent to approve an additional assignment for Ruth Pay. >> Mhm. >> As an instructional aid for the elementary schools for one hour per day at the hourly rate of $34 effective March 1st, 2019 through June 30th, 2019. >> Any discussion? Any questions? Mrs. France got a second. That's we Oh, do you have a question? >> I did. This was from QAC, right? >> Yes. This is keeps us compliant with QAC regulations. >> Second. >> I need a second on this one. >> Second. >> Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oinsky. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sowitz? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Vand? >> Yes. Will, would you like to do operations and finance? >>

032Yes, please. May I I'd like to move items number one through five under operations and finance. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Well, >> on item number three, uh I just wanted to briefly go over when I first ran for the board, one of the things that I ran on was uh infrastructure in the school system. And obviously no one person can do anything alone on board. It takes a majority to at least get things through. But the support of the full board for item number three and the EIP is really such an exciting thing for me. So I wanted to say thank you to the board, to the administration for the hard work that was put into the LGA and the EIP. This is a great thing for this school district. For those that

033don't know about it, it is an energy savings improvement plan and there is going to be >> quite a bit of infrastructure work that's going to be done for the school system that's going to one save money and two be beneficial for the environment and golly, we couldn't go wrong. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? >> Do we need to table those? >> Yeah. Um, >> number four. Four. >> Number four has to be >> tabled. Need six. >> What about these other ones? >> Did only only one through five were moved. So, >> okay. Uh, we we we need to have a motion to table number four. >> Okay. Move to table um item number four. >> Second. >> Uh discussion. It has to do with the amount of people. We

034don't have enough for the transfer. transfer. Okay. >> And that's why it's being tabled is we don't have enough to go ahead with the vote. Uh, any other discussion under operations? Okay. Mrs. Francisco, roll call. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dwire. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sim. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Sand. >> Yes. >> Do the rest of my portion. >> Okay. Okay. Now, >> I'd like to move item number six under operations and finance. >> Okay. Point point of reference here. Uh I don't know if we have Do we have enough for the list of bills? Do we need six on each one? >> We need five to pay bills. >> Okay. So, we can still go ahead. >> You have to repeat. >> Yeah, I have to abstain

035on payroll. So it's other than payroll you can do but um not on payroll and then you have to also table the ones with the transfers because number seven also has a transfer. >> Okay. So let let's do this. Um item seven we don't have enough right. So tables. So we need seven tables. >> Table number seven. Move to table number seven. >> Inquiry. Point of inquiry. Is there any way to invoke the doctrine of necessity for the payment of payroll? >> Is it an emergency? >> No. There's not going to be anything that would be done. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> You're not you don't have the ability. >> We didn't know. I this happened tonight fairly quick. People are ill so unfortunately. Um All right. So we we need to we need to

036table seven eight. >> Should we should we uh vote on six first? >> Yeah. Okay. Now >> and then we'll table everything. >> Okay. All right. Yes. >> So will uh who seconded it? >> I did. Okay. I'm Miss Rome. >> Okay. All right. Any discussion? If not, u Mrs. Francisco, it's for number six. >> Mrs. Dwer, >> yes. >> Mr. Shinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. Mr. Slay, >> yes. >> Mrs. Van, >> yes. >> Move to table resolution seven. >> Second. >> Okay. together. >> We I think that Why don't we try to do them all? >> Sure. >> Cuz they're being tabled. >> Sure. >> All right. So, seven, eight. >> Seven and eight. I move to table resolution seven and eight. So, >> again, any other discussion due not

037enough votes for the vote? Go ahead, Barbara. Um, what about number nine? That's also a That's the report. >> That's the treasur's report. That's okay. >> I move item number nine under operations and finance. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> All right. Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. Dwer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sawitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> And Mrs. Van. >> Yes. Was there a vote on number six? >> Yes. This is the >> Okay, fine. >> I move item number 10 under operations and finance. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Mrs. Francisco. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Oinsky. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sus. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van Dyke. >> Yes. >> I move item number 11 under operations and finance. Second.

038Discussion. Mrs. Francisco. >> Second. You need a second. >> I I didn't Did >> Mr. Mr. Oashinski? >> Oh, I didn't hear you. >> I need I heard a second. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van. >> Yes. Move item number 12 under operations and finance. >> Second >> discussion. >> Mrs. Francisco, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Van. >> Yes. >> Okay. Policy. Uh, Mr. Ofinsky, would you like to do that for me? >> Policy. Sure. >> Yes. Um, I'd like to move items 1 through >> 27. >> Second, >> these are all first readings on here. So, uh, Mr. side of >> in regards to 12,13 and 14. I know that student discipline and

039code of conduct was brought up at the uh at the committee meeting and I just wanted to say that the Aaron Decker school handout that you gave us was great in that I think it addresses a problem that we've been discussing and that's the stigmatism with psych psychiatric issues and in here the disciplinary discipline area infractions and actions for this handout that gave us has psychiatric evaluations for third and subsequent offenses. And in my opinion, things that we see with the unfortunate school shootings and suicides that it's something that maybe we can consider for addition into it for a second reading. That way maybe we can get the child study team to take a look at it and give suggestions if they want to have input in something like this. >> Just a >> that's

040going to go. Yeah. Go ahead. >> Yes. These are just the policy. There was a minor edit to these policies. They changed uh the old EVVRS report to the SSDA report. So we did change that. We are going to look at adjusting the actual handbook that our children get. >> Great. >> Which is a little bit different than the policies. It's a little bit more detailed. >> Great. So this is written for sort of the general public. The handbook is written for the children. >> Thank you. >> These updates came from Esme. They're just regular updates that we get that we have. Yeah. Yeah. Um but what you're talking about the code of conduct that we're looking at I we're going to do we're going to get a little more into that. I wanted everybody

041to get a chance to see that and give some feedback because we'd like to create one that is across the board for for all the schools in the district. Great. So thank you. Thank you for that input. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Um, any other discussion? If not, Mrs. Francisco, roll call. >> Mr. Oinski, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. Mr. >> Abstain on 22. Yes. To the remainder. >> Yes, please. >> Okay. Negotiations. Uh, do we need to table these? We're going to need to table one. >> Okay. All right. So, I I need a motion to table number one. >> Number one. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh roll call. I do. We need a roll call. >> On table. Do it. >> You can do general.

042>> Okay. >> All in favor? >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. All right. Next one. I I also we can do this one, right? Yes. Number two. We Yeah, we need uh number two. Could you do number two? >> Yeah. Move to um approve item number two. >> Second. >> Uh any discussion? If not, roll call. Mrs. Francisco, >> I have I just have a question. I thought if this involved contracts that personal contracts that it had to be twothirds of the board the total membership of the board and isn't this personel isn't this >> negotiation? >> No, this is a this you have to have the board majority. >> Okay. >> The five. >> All right. Okay. And >> nobody's conflicted on this motion. >> Oh, good. Oh, okay. Oh, that's

043>> Yeah. Okay. Uh roll call. Mrs. Franciscoca. >> Uh, Mrs. Romeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Oinsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dwire, >> yes. >> Mr. Sit, >> yes. >> Mrs. Vanise, >> yes. >> I'm just going to I'm just going to make that comment. The reason that item number one was tabled again, it has to do with lack of the amount of votes for to to be able to um move it >> in light of conflict >> conflicts. I can't vote. So, and other and Mrs. uh Romeo is conflicted also on those two. >> Oh. Oh, you Oh, you weren't conf. >> Oh, we don't. Okay. Right. Okay. You can't do it. >> Yeah. Right. Okay. >> All right. Parks and wreck. Uh Mr. Gorino is not here. Safety. Um we had a meeting on

044February 8th and the next meeting is scheduled for May 2nd. Um, one of the topics that came up at our safety meeting is that our police department is um, starting a program where they're going to be going into all of the schools and taking a visit. They're going to be talking with the kids on a very, you know, very casual basis so that they get used to seeing our our police officers in the school. So, if your children come home and say, "Oh, you know, the police were at our school today." It's not that anything happened. It's just that they're trying to open up a little public public relations with the schools and get the children, you know, comfortable with seeing them around and feeling comfortable enough to have a conversation with them. So, that

045was one of the items that came up. We're they're still working on different glitches with the shared 911 uh drills and um the next meeting is May 2nd uh superintendence roundt. Okay. Um the parent visitation day for the snow day is not being rescheduled. There'll be no parent visitation this year and parents were not happy. Um the sack program there's a problem with parents that that work on delayed openings. Um they want their they want sack open before the delayed opening before the regular time because it they're doing it on other days and they just don't understand why. So maybe Dr. Animal can address that. I don't know if that's been resolved. >> We're working into that too. We're talking about the planned delayed openings, not the weather related delay openings. >> Even the weather

046they they said they >> weather related. >> They are okay. Okay. >> Yeah, but they're they're open delayed. >> They're open delayed. >> Yeah. Well, >> normally they want them they want the regular time. Okay. Inconsistencies with Honeywell. Um, that's been addressed. Um, kindergarten online registration. There was a problem with the drop- down menu, but I think that's been corrected. Um, uh, let's see. Indoor recess. Um, were there any updates on that? >> Yes, we are outside at greater than 20° I believe. We're outdoor recess and assume it's not raining. It's not icy. So, we're going outside more frequently than we we were. >> Okay, good. Okay, thank you. That's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, our next meeting is Thursday. >> Thursday. >> Okay. Uh, P County School Boards. Uh, Mrs. Dwire, myself,

047and Mrs. Francisco attended um the P County. >> You were there, weren't you, Will? >> Oh. Oh, yeah. Will was there, too. I'm sorry. Uh, we attended the P County school boards uh last month, and the topic was school safety and security. and listening to the gentleman from the Department of Education, I feel that West Milford, we're really right right where we need to be as far as where the the state expects us to be. And in some of the instances, some of the conversation was very enlightening. Uh there was a conversation with um uh P County uh tech and their SRO's and they were just starting to touch upon vaping and I think we're way ahead of that and I I think there's some issues that we're and maybe because we are smaller we're

048able to address some things with our students. So, I I you know, I think we all felt pretty good about when we left where we are as a district as far as our uh school safety and the that we're doing all the drills that we're supposed to be doing. Uh the next meeting I believe is Monday the 4th and I will be attending and I think Mrs. O'Brien will be attending. Um that's for New Jersey school boards. I mean for Pay County for New Jersey school boards. We're having our training tonight when Mrs. Palawa comes and legislative will. >> Okay. A bill that would codify Park as a pathway to graduation for the class of 2019 and 2020 have passed the Senate. However, after yielding to constituent pressures, the assembly has removed the bill from

049being voted upon. More to come. Second, as a result of large aid reductions, eight South Jersey school districts have sued the Department of Education. The overall message is that the state increases need to be transparent so districts can plan for their futures and more reporting to follow on that as well. >> Can we sue? >> That's a good question. >> It cost money to sue. Let's let them do the work. >> That'll be interesting. >> The marrier. Uh >> that that's it. Well, >> that is it for legislative. >> Okay. Uh technology, Mr. Corino's not here. Um Mrs. Dwer, um your liaison with the township and the board. I don't have your other with the Wallish. So, if you could put that in that report. >> I'm going to put that in now because I

050don't have anything else. But, um I attended the um meeting of the Friends of Wall, I guess about two weeks ago, maybe three weeks ago. Um what a wonderful group of people. They were so gracious and so informative and um humble. That's the only thing I can say is that they were humble. They're so interested in what they can do for the community and for our children. Um we are we are responsible for some of that because Wall Mr. Wall left some of that to us as well as the town. But they pointed out the many many things that they do. um the money that they've spent 20,000, 30,000, 35, 3, thou and everything they get is through a grant, the the only thing they're having a problem with. And I'm and and I'm hoping

051that this board can help them. Um just to show goodwill, their portagons um are not paid for and it's only $900 a year. Um, I I know we're in financial we're in dire straits with finances, but I just I just felt that that we should do something because they're working so hard. Um, one of Will's boys, Boy Scout, presented an idea, but it wasn't fully developed and they were very kind to him, you know, and asked him to come back and develop it more. And um it was a great meeting and they're a great great group of people and we should appreciate everything they do because it's all volunteer. They're rebuilding floors and those buildings. They're rebuilding them themselves and not asking for anything. They're they're applying for grants. So I don't think $900 is

052a lot, but I think we have to talk about that. >> Okay. Thank you. That's it. uh CASA um gate um Mrs. Fritz and I attended um the last class meeting um February 11th and um the one announcement is that there will be um training on Saturday, March 16th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. um at the West Milford Municipal Building, the main meeting room. Um it's a free training called Youth Mental Health First Aid and um it's recommended for all adults um you know that have any interest in um knowing the signs, learning the actions, and being a lifeline for any mental health situations. That's the only new current thing right now. >> Okay. uh old business. >> I want to piggyback on actually both their reports because >> a group recently went to

053the township council with a proposed resolution that the that the council seemed favorable to for addressing the stigma of mental health. And maybe that's something that we could look into and just kind of ask the town council more about that. I don't know more about >> Cassid is um looking into that and discussing that as a group and a community of becoming >> a sigmafree community. Is that what you're talking about? >> Right. That's exactly. >> Yeah. So um I personally don't know a whole lot about that. I haven't read anything on it yet, but there is discussion at the meetings. Um I'm sure that there's some a process that they take to become so it is being discussed. Um >> and I can find out more about that. >> Thank you. And and just

054uh there there is a vaping seminar tomorrow at the um Makabin. I think it's 7 is it 7 o'clock tomorrow at the Makabin? >> Yes, 7. >> And it's open to the public. So I think it would be you know if anybody's interested they may may want to go. That's something that there's a speaker coming. Um Matt Mark had spoken about that too. I don't have the speakers. >> A vaping awareness seminar >> scheduled for tomorrow at Macan at 7 p.m. Thank you. >> Yes. So, if anybody's interested in going, that's tomorrow night at McAppen. Um, okay. Old business. Anybody have any old business? >> Move to close old business. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I oppose. All right. Um, can we move on to public comment and then have Kathy since

055she's not here? >> Skip new business. >> Can we skip, you know, new business and >> because she's not here. Okay. >> Okay. We're going to move on to public comment. Um and waiting for uh Mrs. Haw to arrive. Uh public comment. Members of the public who have requested to speak prior to the meeting will be first for 5 minutes for each speaker for a period of 30 minutes and then time permitting other public comment limited to five minutes per speaker will be allowed until the 30 minute time period transpires. All speakers are asked to give their full name, spell their last name, and provide their address. Speakers may not use the names of students during public comment. Would anyone like to speak? Not anyone under Okay, we need a motion. >> I promise I

056won't cause a >> Wait, we have to close. >> Oh, we have to close. >> No, this is for news business on behalf of >> Oh, okay. Well, we're not under news. We're in public comment. Public >> That's what I meant. It's >> Who are you reading it on behalf of? >> On behalf of me. I promise this is definitely not >> Okay. >> My cousin. >> Okay. I'm reading this on behalf of Nate Betford of Highlander Productions, Huitt, New Jersey. Members of the West Milford Board of Education, audience members in attendance, and to the audience watching this meeting either on live stream or West Milford 77. I'm the man behind the camera who films the board of education meetings for the past few years. I would like to bring to light a cause and

057issue that has impacted me greatly and tragically. This week is the National Eating Disorder Association Awareness Week. And I come before you to tell a story. 7 weeks ago, my girlfriend of almost 9 years, Lisa Ellis, died suddenly after complications due to walking pneumonia. Lisa died in her sleep on Tuesday, January 8th of this year. I was unaware of her struggle with her eating disorder. Lisa's eating disorder was a secret to me, but it did not define her. Although it was a part of most of her adult life, like many who suffer from eating disorders, she didn't make it public, either feeling ashamed or not thinking it's a problem. Lisa thought about others more than she thought about herself. She was bullied in school because she was deemed too pretty. Lisa was a beautiful, smart,

058caring, funny, and intuitive young woman. She loved her family, animals, mostly dogs, a Dallas Cowboy fan, and a fan of the New York Yankees. She was a great artist, creative, spiritual, loved and practiced meditation. She enjoyed taking me to new cafes, restaurants, movies, and walks in the park. She lived in West Caldwell, New Jersey, and I didn't mind the commute. Two days before she died, we had our usual Sunday coffee dates where we made plans for our future together. We had hoped that by next year we would be financially stable enough to settle down and get married. She was hoping to go back to continue her education at the Essex County College in West Caldwell to pursue a career in radiography. 30 million Americans struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lives.

059And despite the prevalence, eating disorders receive significantly less funding than other major mental illnesses and support options are often inaccessible. Lisa had a few stays thanks to her family support both inpatient and outpatient treatment at centers like Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. She tried very hard to beat this disease which is one of the most deadly mental health disorders as evident by her tragic passing. Her older sister, Megan, formed a team for the National Eating Disorder Association in her name on Sunday, April 7th at the Brookdale Park in Bloomfield, New Jersey from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as her family, friends, and myself plan on walking in her memory. We're currently looking for donations to contribute to the National Eating Disorder Association so others who struggle similarly can receive the help with prevention, treatment, and

060access to quality care. Whether the board wishes to make a donation as a whole or if individual members wish to donate, I have the website www.needa.org/monclair 2019. Our team is lovely Lisa. Any amount donated is greatly appreciated. I plan on talking to other local entities, organizations, businesses, and individuals to support this fundraiser. All donations are taxdeductible. In conclusion, I hope that I have provided awareness on this mental issue with my own tale. Since Lisa's passing, I have tried to deal with the grief of losing the love of my life by being active, especially when I learned about her eating disorder with fundraising for the National Eating Disorder Association. I know she would be proud that her memory and story will continue on in helping others. If you would like more information, you can visit the

061website www.naleeatingisorders.org or by visiting the Facebook page or Instagram using keywords NEDA or #NEDA or you may talk to me directly. Thank you for your time and support. Sincerely, your friend, friendly neighborhood videographer, Nathan Bedward, Na Nathan Bedford, Highlander Productions. >> Sorry, Nate. >> Thank you. >> We're we're very sorry about your loss, Nate. Uh, any other public comment? >> Seeing none, I move to public. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Can we do executive session? >> We can take a session and come back to >> the uh >> Okay, we need we need a motion for executive session. I move that at 8:24 p.m. >> we go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel appointments, resignations, current litigation matters, special education matters, negotiations, and matters of

062attorney client privilege. The executive session minutes will not be released until such time as the privilege or confidentiality is no longer applicable. >> A second. I'll explain why. Okay, we're going into executive session now again because we're waiting for our presenter and we're trying to compress the time so that this way everybody doesn't have to be sitting here longer than it needs. Okay, that's >> we are Yeah, we will we will come out as soon as she arrives, but I don't think we're going to be that long in executive session anyway. >> Set up too early. >> Yeah. >> So, we will we need a motion. You made the motion. Did we get a second? second. >> Oh. Oh, good. Okay. Well, then we're going to go with >> Iris in the motion. >> But

063we didn't take the vote yet, so we're okay. All right. So, what do we All right. Kathy's going to set up. We're going to take a five minute break and Miss Mrs. Ha could set up. Okay. >> And there's coffee back there. >> There is There is coffee and cookies and things in the back. So, please feel free. your parents have uh >> to have something while while you wait. [Music] >> Thank you very much, not only for your hospitality, but also for your patience. >> I'm going to move >> flexibility. It's great to be here. Um, just in case you don't remember, don't know, I'm Kathy Hollow, your school board's representative. Um, it's a pleasure to be back in West Milford tonight because tonight we're going to be talking about ethics and it's a

064QAC requirement that boards of education discuss the ethics act once a year. So, if you don't mind looking in your folder on the right hand side, second to last paper, right in front of the purple page, there is um an acknowledgement of receipt. When you take that on that on out, sign it, and pass it on over to Barbara, she'll have a record that we had this conversation tonight. on the right hand side to the back. >> Yeah, there you go. This goes to Barbary. Keep it on fire. 26, right? >> 26. >> Thank you. >> So, the folders are great reference material. Um, hold on to them. It's got a lot of great stuff in it. I've got a presentation to go through with you all about the code of ethics. I'm wondering though

065and and trust me you could stop me as we go through the presentation. Um but I'm wondering at the outset are there any questions that come to the front that you that uh kind of jump to mind. >> I just want to make this is this is a presentation that we do yearly. It's not you know >> that's exactly right. That's exactly right. And a lot of the material is going to sound very familiar to you, but it is that QAP requirement that the board discuss ethics at least once a year. So to have the actual training and the conversation and all this that is that is really above and beyond. So it's it's it's excellent. I commend you all if you don't mind Rob clicking on forward. Okay. So the school ethics act um

066you know really is it first thing first it's law it's legislated. Um, you have the entire text of the act in your folders in the yellow. Okay, that thing that's stapled all together and it's long and it's in legal ease and all that stuff. So, we'll break it down for you a little bit. Um, but at the end of the day, really what this is about is holding the trust and the confidence of the people who put you in your seat, the electorate, your constituents, who said you're our person to represent us and to make decisions with your your own judgment for the good of the students in West Milford. And you need to hold their trust. You know, this law is the same law from Kate May to Monu and everything in between. So

067we're all on the same page here. This is the baseline. This is the B for everybody. So that's actually a reason to like the ethics act because word like ethics, you think it's black and white, but it's not. There's different interpretations of it. There's gray areas and as we go through this, there are areas that may even seem gray to the explanation. So it's good to have a baseline so that everyone's on the same page. Okay. So, the act itself, the legislation did all of these things. Um, you're very familiar, I'm sure, with the last bar there, the requirements for board members, your gov one, your gov two, everything that you have to take for your first term and each time you're reelected. Um, and your disclosure statements that you got from Trenton that just

068reports where you you and your family receive your income from. Um, so those you're familiar with, but we'll look at are the first three in the greatest step. the ethics commission itself, the code itself and conflicts of interest that you may face as a thank okay so the ethics commission itself nine member body meets monthly in Trenton um everyone who serves on it is appointed by the governor to serve a three-year term um when it is fully appointed we've got it's just kind of interesting way of looking at it where we've got two school board members on it two school administrators But the majority of the membership of the ethics commission are non-school officials. They have nothing to do with board governance. They have nothing to do with administering a school. So just an interesting

069point of view to to keep in mind there. The commission is not fully staffed right now. There is a vacancy. There's only one school board member. So there's one person who's looking at things who eyes that are familiar to us, right? What the commission does um we and it is the commission that holds you accountable to compliance with the school ethics act is um it governs via two methods, right? Advisory opinions or ethics complaints. That's how it work. They're not the board police and that they don't read the newspaper and find boards that are bad and not, you know, come to meetings and sit there and this and that. No, no, no, no, no. They have to be alerted to some kind of behavior that may be problematic. Um, and that's either through an advisory

070opinion or an ethics complaint. And there's differences between the two, but the major difference is advisory opinions are um are about current or prospective behavior. If a board member is thinking, you know, I'm not quite sure if I'm conflicted. I'm not quite sure if these actions that I want to take as a board member with my board are in compliance with the ethics act. I'm not. It's a gray to me. I don't know. Um, we always say as uh field service representatives and NJSBA, your best source of an answer for that is typically your attorney, but on occasion there's, you know, still some, you know, some fuzziness. So you may need to ask for an advisory opinion from the ethics commission itself. Anyone on the board can ask for an advisory opinion about their own

071board. You can't ask for one about Wanukq. You can't ask for one about Verona. It has to be about West Milford. And you can ask for one about yourself or a fellow board member. If you're doing it in a latter case, you just have to let the fellow board member know that you're asking for an advisory. future behavior or current behavior. Ethics commission meets, reads your letter. That's all it is. It's a letter. It's not a form. It's not anything else like that. And they determine whether or not your behavior is is good. You know, under the ethics act. If it is, they advise you. If not, they advise you why it's not. And they assume that you will just take the proper course of action. And there's never any kind of fine involved with

072that. complaint is different because that's when the horse has left the barn. That's past actions and anyone can file an ethics complaint. Can be anyone on your board, staff member, community member, someone from Delaware can file an ethics complaint. And if an ethics complaint, which takes a long time to wind its way through the system, but if an ethics if someone is found in violation of the ethics act, there is a penalty involved in advancing. Um, sorry about the the dark type, but basically there's four steps. I mean, you would either be reprimanded or censured, suspended, or in very extreme cases removed. Actually, suspension is kind of removed is is kind of uh rare as well. Most common is reprimand or censure. Um and they kind of go incrementally, you know, depends on based on

073the seriousness of the act or if honestly if you're the subject of reprimand after reprimand after reprimand, you're moving up the scale, you know, if you're >> So, in other words, if you had more than one complaint for something, they would be looking at it >> in a different way. >> Yes. Yes. Exactly. And all of their decisions um ethics decision complaints are on the school ethics commission's website. And as you read through them, if you have that kind of time, and it is interestingly quite frankly, you'll notice that a lot of the complaints that are filed allege multiple violations, right? And you will also see that as we're getting into like five or six, you know, you know, then that's kind of serious business. Um, advisory opinions are not necessarily put on the website.

074Um, the commission after it issues an advisory opinion and if they think that that kind of advice would be useful to boards in general, they'll publish it after at least six of them vote to make it public. And it's another difference between advisories and and complaints is the advisories is all sanitized. You don't know what district asked for it. Identities are are redacted. Um it's just the broad advice commission uh complaints. You see everything, the names, the dates, the locations, the part part of the reason maybe why they're just such interesting. But any questions about those things? I think the main thing is that I have but anybody can sometimes it's confusing because it seems like the board can control the ethics. We we can't as board members we can't control what happens with the

075other board members on the board or you know like if you have if you have a multiple amount of complaints it it doesn't mean that it has something to do with the board. It might just have to do with >> a member or >> Oh yes, that's a that's a very good point. And it also kind of leads back to the larger thing. The ethics act is about board members. It's not about board itself. So even if you have a haywire board, you can't file an ethics complaint against a board. >> It's got to be against an individual or two or three. And you will see some place where it's like 50 million board members on there. But it's about the board member about the board. >> And you're right. I mean, if you've got

076a rogue member, this is the method by which they are held accountable. >> But anybody can file against >> anyone can file it. >> It's not it doesn't necessarily have to be a board member against the I mean staff do it, you know, community members who have parents do it. watchd dogs do it. You know, those gas flies who, you know, who are very concerned about governance and, you know, tax dollars and if they see something that's a miss, >> you know, this is the method for holding people to the, you know, their feet to the flame so they they do get fired. Um, and you'll also see in your folder, refrigerator ready, beautiful. You probably have this already from your past folders, but the code of ethics, this is a big one. This is

077when you're um filing an ethics complaint, you're you're thinking someone's violating something, you cite one of these subsections. Right? So, as we go through the program tonight, we'll kind of use a particular recent decision um came out of Mammoth County where we had two board members on the same board who um were quote unquote tipped off by a member of the public that one of their employees, the business administrator, was working at another school district in violation of their policy, in violation of the law. Um, and they decided to investigate this for themselves. They decided to make a lot of public noise about it without going through the proper channels that we'll talk about that you're probably familiar with already. Um, and they even took it to an extreme level um, that we'll go through

078and we'll find out a little bit more about, but those two people were found in violation of subsections C, D, E, G, I, and J. Wow. Okay. Yeah, it's Yeah, it's it is a lot. And they all stuck. They all stuck. >> Yeah. Yeah. So going through these one by one. I mean, we don't have to spend an awful lot of time on it, but you know, the important points, I mean, we've got subsection A, right, which is the which is a real basic one. You know, I I'm not going to do anything that's against the law, that's against what the state board of education requires of me and my board, and uh you know, what any kind of court orders are are in place. That's pretty basic. You don't mind looking forward. Um B

079is really my favorite. This kind of speaks to why you're on the board to begin. And my favorite word in there is the word all. You know, you are going to be making your decisions in terms of the welfare of all children. Right? That's what you're here to do. It's as simple and as complicated as that. You're here for every subsection, section, every level of talent and ability of your students, right? You're here to represent all of them equally. When you have something before you, you have to weigh all of their concerns. You have to make your decisions based on their best interest. Regardless of of course their ability, their race, their creed, their social standing, whether you like them or not, whether you know them or not, whether they're in your kids's class, whether

080they're not, you know, they're all the same. Um, moving on to subsection C. Uh, this speaks to what really the role of the board is, right? your policy makers. You will confine your your actions to policym, planning, and appraisal. Right? The other thing that you do is communicate with your community. We'll talk a little bit more about that, but this is really a part of what those members do. It's right here in the code. And you will help to frame those policies only after you've consulted those who would be affected by them. That's where public participation comes in, right? accumulate your double commentary period, your first reading, your second reading. That's how you take care of it. Um, subsection D, big one, big one. You've heard it 50 million times. If you've ever gone to

081a school board's program, if you haven't been to one yet, you will hear this an awful lot. You are not here to run the school, but you would see that they are wellrun together with your fellow board members. That's where the oversight comes in. Oversight, right? Not the obsidian minutia, what's going on earth dayto-day. Your oversight, your policy, your planning, your appraisal, your oversight. Okay. So, our friends in Mammoth County um in their actions, they went against, you know, let's kind of look at C and D, right? So they obviously fail to limit their actions to policym, planning, and appraisal. They're, you know, chastising or attempting to chastise an employee has nothing to do with any one of those things. And to make it even worse, they didn't consult with board members at all. Uh

082they didn't ask their superintendent if a proper investigation could be conducted or was needed to be conducted or if it was conducted. They're just kind of going on their own. And to make it even better, um they determined themselves that that all evidence to the contrary, um this business administrator was absolutely working where she said she wasn't working and was guilty, determined guilty and needed to be reprimanded. I mean, it was just really ugly. And also under good old D, right? Not seeing that they're not seeing that the not running the district, but seeing that it's wellrun. um you know receiving information from one of your constituents and then trying to follow that through is completely against the chain of command and that's absolute management. That's not over. Good old E. E is at if

083you start spending time on the on the ethics commission website E is the one that's the stickiest one. This is the one that's found you know people are guilty of most recognizing that authority rests with the board of education not yourself. Not one member no one member has the right to make decisions for the board. No one member has the right to try to resolve issues on their own. That's not what being on a board of education is about. Um it's about working together as a body. You have your authority when you're casting a vote that's on your consent agenda. That's where it starts and that's where it ends. That's and that's that. So you're not going into any other kind of arena and saying I am the board of education. I I I can

084do this for you. I can get this done. We're going to We're not going to. That's not your role. It's the board's role. All that happens here in a legally constituted meeting of a former operator. Um, this one I I think is pretty clear. This is about your individual judgment. You don't surrender it uh for to partisan groups or for the uh gain of yourself or your friends or anything like that. Enough said. I think uh gee right this is another surprising that uh people are found in violation of all the time no leaks right if it's an executive session if your superintendent gives you something confidential all over it it's confidential and um it needs to be treated with the utmost seriousness um I can't believe how many G's are out there so um

085there's tons there's tons They're juicy. They probably make the board member feel really good when they're telling their friend or maybe even a concerned parent or student. Something that may make that recipient feel better or get them agitated or this. I don't know what the purpose is, but that's not your role. as much as you may feel that it would serve a greater good by spilling this information by being another word I hear a lot wanted to be transparent of transparency right love transparency but sometimes when I hear that word I got to stop and really think about what this person is is trying to say because confidential information and transparency they're not in the same worlds they really aren't there's a reason why information is confidential. So a lot of times it's a matter

086of law. So stay away from good old G. And confidential is confidential forever, right? I mean like it if you know something about a student or something that's never going to be public, it's confidential to you forever. >> Well, some things sometimes the need for confidentiality goes away. Your attorney can kind of guide you through that. But typically, yes, student >> I mean like if you leave the board, it's still confidential. >> Oh, absolut. Well, that's another thing, too. I mean, if you taken an oath to keep material as before you as a board member while you are on the board, >> that's Yeah. I mean, that's that's an oath, right? That's an oath and and hopefully we uh we go by that even after our term. >> Okay. >> So, our buddies um obviously

087they like tons of other people are guilty of of good old E, right? Interestingly enough, if you read through that, when the board didn't take the kind of action that they wanted the board to take with regard to this employee, they called up the county prosecutor and started to make that case and start, you know, >> Wow. >> Was that Was that West Milford? >> I think about it. >> Was that West Milford? >> You don't have to tell me where it was. Just tell me who it was. >> It was in Mammoth County. It was in Mammoth. And I really like that >> in in a past ethics presentation I had a case file for and I'm sitting in front of one like oh this is their >> yeah it was a few years

088ago and I was like I hope they don't recognize themselves and imagine that they but anyway no so this is not obviously this is not Milford but imagine these people were really going as they were going if any anyone who would listen they would also go for G. Now, here's the information. Here's the the G thing. The information they were profering that they were saying that would have been confidential had it been true was not true was not true. However, complaining about it, sharing about it created a justifiable impression that it was true. And that's part of the whole purpose of the ethics act is to avoid justifiable impressions that you are in violation of the act. So even if technically you're not in violation of the act and you can point out your good

089intentions or in this case I'm sure these people if they wound up getting an attorney I'm sure their attorney probably threw it out there like well it wasn't even true anyway so it's not confidential. No, it's all about the impression that your constituents may um attain after watching your behavior and and being pretty. Okay, my cooking group. All right, back to the code. Just a few more of these. Um H is about appointing personnel. Um, I know that especially with new members, uh, you know, voting to appoint personnel can be a little bit, um, it may be a little bit unclear, like, I'm voting for this person, but I've never met them. I haven't seen their resume. I didn't interview them. How do I know that this is the right person for the district, that

090this is the best person for the job? We know, especially with teachers, what a difference they make for our students. Well, the reason why you know that is because you have hired a superintendent and your superintendent is the educational leader of your district. They are more than qualified to make the best hire for your district. It's just a matter of learning that you have to vote on them. If you're not comfortable, you could certainly ask your superintendent an important question, which is why do you think this person is the best for our district? But that shouldn't you shouldn't expect a very detailed answer with transcripts or this or that or sit in on the interview or anything like that. Um really unless you have a solid reason to not approve your superintendent's recommendations, you generally

091want to go with that. That's not to say that you might not have a solid reason and it's not to say that you have to that you are required to vote yes on everything, but you do have to be be very careful about um you know what is often called like an arbitrary or concrete and sometimes you know when you click that no you know when you say that no vote you may be going down that road so just be very careful. Thank you. And also, you need the superintendent's recommendation, right? You can't say, "Well, I don't like this name on the agenda, but my uh next door neighbor's nephew is perfect." You know, that's you need the superintendent's recommendation. I you'll support and protect school personnel and proper performance of their duties. One of

092my absolute favorites right after B because this gets you out of so many sticky conversations, especially for a new board member. Oh, you know, everybody wants to talk to you at church, at Girl Scouts, at sports, in the parking lot, the supermarket about the a staff member that's just not doing things the right way or they have, you know, and you can't be a part of those conversations. You fall back on the ethics, right? I'm not saying you shove somebody off everywhere like that's I got to go. But explain to them that, you know, as a school official, as a board member, you need to follow the chain of command because the board is the last stop, you know, in through the complaint procedure. And if you are kind of entering that chain of command

093a few stops too early, you're circumventing the hall. You're just causing a lot of problems. And and honestly, if it does get before the board, you probably should just recuse yourself. So they don't they won't even have, you know, they won't even have, you know, your your voice in in that discussion. You don't want so much. Um and here is that chain of command, right? Um any kind of complaints that you receive needs to go to the superintendent. Um and also you will act on complaints of public meetings only after the failure of an administrative solution. Um failure, you know, an unpopular administrative solution or an administrative solution that you may not necessarily agree with personally or the majority of the people who show up to your board meetings. That's not the failure of an

094administrative solution. Um, however, if someone is unhappy with the administrative the ultimate administrative solution, that person or group or whoever it is may seek for the board to examine that decision and possibly um re-evaluate it, perhaps go in a different direction. And that means an agenda item. That means it may mean going into executive session. It kind of is case by case. It's rare. It's very rare. 97% are resolved before they get back to before it gets. But for that 3% that might not I mean and honestly all the time that I was a board member and only that it was before me. It's imperative that you all know your role and that you don't try to step out of that chair. Never before. It's not before single board. It's not before single board. Any

095questions on that? Okay. So, our pals, we know that obviously they were they were not they were undermining and compromising their poor business administrator. Not cool. And they circumvented, you know, the whole chain of hand as we've already issed out. So, not good. Not good. You don't mind? And and that's all they got. A censure, right? They got a censure. >> What's a censure? A censure is bless you. Bless you. A censure is where the board president reads a statement aloud at a meeting that they've been censuring. And that's that. >> And that's that. >> So I think they're still on their board. Bless them. So two of them are question. Are you allergic to cats? >> No. >> Okay. I >> No, this is this usually happens 3:00 in the afternoon, but it's just

096>> helpful for a while. >> I know. I'm sorry. I don't know. I'm allergic to something. >> I'm sorry. I just I would feel bad. >> You sound like a very sickly looking at me a lot of things going on. Um well at least we didn't get out. >> No. Yeah. I'm well. Okay. So here are some other problems of people who ran a muck of the uh of the ethics act. Um you can read all these in your packet honestly. But someone this is a really fascinating case at that first bullet point. It's out of Pleasantville. Um not very nice. um you know actually yelled at a school administrator to the point she was she was expecting actually and uh and she had to go to the hospital cuz she she was not good.

097So yeah so that was and if you click that this person was actually suspended they were found in violation of EG the whole case it's tons of pages this person also is now sitting on the Pleasantville count. [Laughter] moving up in the company. >> Ethics does get depressing, right? Depressing. These are this is um going this is a big I, you know, a lot of board members are, you know, hopefully most are very passionate about serving, right? That's why they're sitting there. That's why they're doing all this for no money. All these meetings um and all of this back work that you have to do. But you can't just show up at a school unannounced and do any kind of looking around or investigating or checking things out or anything asking questions of the staff.

098That's not your role. If you do really want to see the new, you know, steam lab or something like that or, you know, that's understandable. But you need to ask your superintendent first. And quite frankly, um, in my opinion, it's probably best to wait for your superintendent to ask the entire board to come and see the great results of the new program or the new facility that's being implemented, right? I mean, so this way everyone's on the same page and it's a real prize for the district. If you don't, you're going to be uh you're going to be in violation of the ethics act in any case. So not cool. Um, rice notices. Okay, rice notices can only be issued by the board secretary except for the superintendent. Superintendent is rice by the board president.

099Um, in this particular case, which really made a lot of noise about rice not notices, um, uh, a member just wanted to rice an interim superintendent. U, um, wasn't a board, wasn't the board president. Um and uh you know then became the board president away from the table by the way where they're circumventing oatmeal by doing all this calling and mismatch mess. Um and then decided you know what we're going to terminate this in the superintendent because he couldn't stand the person and uh had a replacement in mind already with salaries and benefit. Yeah. It so these are these are Yeah. But this kind of thing happens and you've got to think about here's the person who clearly they're a school board member. They they advocate for their district. They just didn't like this person.

100There is a right way and a wrong way to address performance concerns. That's the wrong way. >> And that person was reprimanded. >> Okay. I have a question. >> Sure. >> If an individual board member wants someone riceed, that has to be done. The individual board member can ask the president or the business administrator or the superintendent. Um well actually I'm not sure why an a board member would want an individual other than the superintendent to be raced because the superintendent is yours only employee right so for me to say you know that I wanted let's say my kid's teacher raced because I had concerns about this or that and I know it that's not my role like any other board me any other parent I would need to go through the cham if I

101have problem with my kids's teacher, I go to the pr the teacher, then the principal, then this or that. Certainly don't start by issue asking for a rice notification so I can talk about it with the board. However, if there is a good reason, I'm not it's not coming to my mind right now, but there may well be a good reason for an individual to be raced. Um, you know, a board member wouldn't really do that. If there's a concern, you need to go to the superintendent, explain the concern. It might stop right there. It might stop right there. If it doesn't, and the superintendent decides to, the superintendent can rice that person. The person's not riceed, then it also stops, right? And a rice, everybody knows what a rice is, right? >> I'm sorry.

102I I speak like everybody's is observed in everything. >> Yeah. Well, it's not even an acronym. That's actually somebody's last name. But I kind of forget like, you know, people don't know what you know, SEL is or Q sac blah blah just cuz I think that the last one. Imagine this. Imagine this was against the essay. Board member requested favors of his child's principal for his kid and ignored rules placed on other parents. Imagine that. That wasn't good. That was probably a real easy one, but person got a reprimand. So, I guess they got some kind of right next slide if you want. Conflicts of interest is another thing that we need to be concerned about as board members. It's not addressed in the code of ethics. It's actually in the in the yellow part

103is a you know under uh 1224. Um but they're pretty obvious. I mean you recuse yourself if there's some kind of a business interest or financial involvement or a gift or a personal involvement that creates an unwarranted uh benefit. Doesn't mean you can't be on the board, but you need to step away from those conversations, those discussions and any kind of vote. Um, and this is where we start talking about what an immediate family member is and what a relative is, okay? Because that comes into place as far as conflicts go. So, an immediate family member is someone who is your spouse or a dependent child who lives with you under your that's how it's residing in the same household. That's how the statute defines that. If you don't mind, click. Um, so here's a

104couple of bad behavior things. Board members who voted to appoint a city councilman as their assistant superintendent when they work for the township. That was bad news. I think was that a censure? I think that was Do you mind clicking and see what see if it popped up? Oh, it was a recommen. Okay. Um, which is the lowest level one discussing and voting to approve a settlement chart agreement to dismiss. I won't I won't file ethics charges if you do this and I won't that's not cool. They got suspended. Um insinuating yourself up in the hiring the in the hiring process by recommending your own vow. Not cool. And also voting to reappoint an audit an auditing form where your business partner is a principal. Not good. That's you know worthy of being uh that

105we are consulted. So it's worthy of stepping out of that discussion of her and that one was let's see if you don't mind clicking. Oh, they have a rough for that. Okay, we'll advance. All right, so who's a relative? We talked about immediate family members. A relative is a much larger net. It's in your slide if you can't read it. spouse, civil union, domestic partner, parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, your siblings, your stepbrother, your halfb brotherther, your halfsister and stepsister, your aunt, your uncle, your niece, your nephew, or your spouse's, any of those things, that's a relative. That is a relative. Like blood, marriage or adoption, it's a very big net. And why do we talk about relatives? if you don't mind clicking. Um, it's about hiring and also about the negotiations

106process. So, you can't hire a relative. A relative, the big definition of yourself, a board member, or your superintendent. Um, unless unless you have tried everything to fill a very specialized position. This actually happens in remote districts, LBI, it happens a lot. >> Um, and you just can't find anybody except for somebody who fits that definition of relative or even immediate family. And you can ask the executive county superintendent for a waiver. If you can prove that you went through a very comprehensive, you know, process to find someone and no one's coming up, then you just might get a waiver to hire a relative. Um but the superintendent can't recommend to the board somebody otherwise unless you've got that waiver in place. Um because they really again except they've got unless they've got that waiver

107they can't exercise authority over over their own relative. Um if you don't mind clicking. Um, also if you've got a relative or somebody else working in your district, maybe it's somebody who qualified under that waiver or more likely it's someone who was working here before you were elected to your seat, then you cannot take part in any kind of matter that involves a superintendent and the superintendent's job performance. Whether it's hiring the superintendent or whether it's reviewing the superintendent, you're deemed to be conflicted. And that's that big definition, the relative definition, which of course includes immediate family members in district. So if you got somebody working in Wikia, that's okay. But if you got someone who wants to work in West Milford for the district, that's not we have a lot of districts that have

108inflicting and I I mean going back years ago when I was it wasn't as much, but it seems to me that almost every board has somebody that's inflicted on it. >> It It's true. And that's my experience. Also, it's a small state that really honestly cares a lot about education. I mean, we're we're one of the top one of the top two states in public education. It goes just goes to show we're really invested. So, that doesn't surprise me. It actually kind of surprises me when I have a board that doesn't add any budget. Next slide. Oh, okay. Negotiations. This chart is in your package. You're going to have to take note. It also comes directly from an SEC advisory. Basically, if you've got an immediate family member who works in the district, again, immediate

109family member or relative works, you are out of negotiations 100%. If you have the more narrow definition, the immediate family member who works out of district, they're in the union, but they work in Cedar Grove or Cedar Grove public schools, for example, you are out of negotiations until the memorandum of agreement is reached and the salary guides and all that business, all the common, then you can then you can cast that final vote on the collective bargaining agreement. After all that's done, if you have that large picture definition, that big relative definition who works out of district, again, the big definition, your nephew who works in Dennis Township, then you're in. You can vote, you can discuss, you can have negotiations, you want. That's different. That's actually backtracked. At one point they were saying the

110the commission had a ruling that said if you have the big picture the relative working in another district even if you never so long but they happen to be related to you um you were out of negotiations but they backtracked. So um if you think oh I didn't realize that it's probably because you heard something differently a few years ago. Notice those asterisks by the yes s's absent another conflict. Um, your attorney is a great source on this if you're if just to make sure. But gen absent another conflict typically means on the next slide I think we have it um that last bullet point is the most popular. The immediate family member who is in um the union and serves as um and has what we call heightened union involvement. serves on their local

111districts negotiations committee, maybe the president of their local union vice presidents, that may create heightened union involvement and that may consult you. So, just work with your attorney on that. Keep a list of who works where and what they do um union wise and you should be able to keep your nose clean. Um, now this one, this, you know what, this A10-18 is a fascinating opinion and it came out last year. And in this particular case, we had a person on the ballot uncontested, right? No one else was running for the seat. And um this person had served on the negotiations team was not popular with the union. This particular person who's up for reelection. Um the union contacted the board member and said, "We'd really like to make a contribution to your campaign." And

112the person said, "I don't need your money and I don't want your money and I don't want your endorsement." So adios, right? and these, you know, I'm about I'm gonna play, of course, he's going to get in, right? Um, so they took their money, put it back in their pockets, but they said, "You know what? We're going to write a nice endorsement. We're going to endorse him anyway." And then when he won, and when he won, they said, "Oh, you can't be on negotiations anymore. What a shame. Because if you are endorsed formally by the union, you need to sit out the next round of negotiations completely." So it wasn't that smart and infuriating understandably to the board member. They wrote to the ethics commission and the ethics commission said you know what >> you're

113[Laughter] >> so very creative very circumvent something >> but that one yeah but that one so doctrine of necessity if you have and this speaks to what you were mentioning before limit if you have a board where the majority is conflicted and cannot participate in any particular kind of action. Most commonly negotiations, you need to invoke the doctrine of necessity. Your attorney does it. You just kind of write on there that you know this is the reason this person's conflicted for this reason, that reason, this reason, that reason. It's a majority of the board. Therefore, we need to invoke the doctrine of necessity and the board can vote on that particular agenda. However, um as far as negotiations goes and forming a committee, the SEC has has uh ruled that even if you only have

114one school board member who is not conflicted one out of nine or seven or five or whatever it is, that person can be the negotiations committee. You can't invoke the doctrine of necessity to form a committee. Also it has to be all you have to have the whole board has to be completed to form a negotiations committee and in that particular case I think it was per sampling one person was >> they were lucky and they were new and they were new not now if your superintendent or your BA happens to be conflicted they cannot take part in negotiations discussions But they can serve as um like as a reference. They can give you reference material, but they can't join the conversation. They can't be in on the negotiations. Um volunteerism. This hasn't changed since

115the last time I talked to you all about this, but it has changed over the years because there really for a long time there was no there was just no question about whether volunteering in the school uh was okay or not until of course there was some bad behavior and somebody asked for an advisory opinion. And uh in really examining the question, the ethics commission determined that some forms of volunteerism may very well run up against your role as a board member. Um so basically what we're trying to avoid is that whole I will see to it that the schools are wellrun. I won't try to run them myself. And um in that case, keeping that in mind as the benchmark, if you're in there once, twice, very infrequent, open to all, you know, handing

116out popsicles on field day, being a chaperon on field trip, reading to the kids on doctor's day, whatever it is, that's fine. That's okay. But if you start coming into the school regularly as a school volunteer, right? not as a PTO volunteer because a PTO is a separate organization altogether. Not as someone from the Girl Scouts and the rec commission which is a separate organization alto together. But if you let's say um said you know what I'm going to uh run the uh the history club. We don't have a history club. I'll I'll do it. I'll run it for the middle school. I'll be the moderator. That's not consistent with your board. Any kind of thing that involves frequent interaction with staff and students could be a problem. What we're looking to avoid is uh

117it's in quotes there and that's actually from the decision. Um any kind of impression that you are inshed in the building and kind of the benchmark is is if anyone walking in the school might mistake you for an employee because they see you there all the time. That's not good. That's running real close to D if not right up against D. Again, it's that justifiable impression thing, right? Um and we do have a nice article. in the folders about volunteerism that you can read and advance. Um, do you guys do interview committees here? Yes. All right. Got to be careful. You're probably familiar with this. Um, the SEC strongly discourages interview committees, but if you're going forward with it, because the superintendent does direct the hiring process. Okay, that's a non-negotiable. Everybody recognizes that. So

118if it's fine, if you're if in some cases it's a superintendent's idea and that's to be honored, that's okay. We have to follow specific guidelines. Um they're outlined in that decision 0412 which is on the website. But basically um you're there to observe. You're not there to ask questions. you can't kind of give your opinion that you know rather than your superintendent's opinion but I imagine that if you've done these interview committees before you probably very familiar with that and I don't need to waste too much breath on exit interviews on the other hand is the commission was very firm about it and said no real quick and short decision blew my mind no that's micromanaging that's you know dayto-day that is not. Okay, we can advance and I think we're just about I think

119the next slide. Yeah. So, basically read school board if there's any changes or court cases or advisory opinions that you should be aware of or ethics complaints that come down that would be of great use for board members to know about. It'll be in your school board notes, your paper copy or online copy. But your best sort and and if you have questions about this field service reps, you know, field initial questions all the time because we're really immersed in this, but your best source of information and guidance on whether or not you're in compliance with the code of ethics or the ethics act is your board attorney. Is your board attorney. Um, and that being said, I'm just wondering if there's anything that I didn't address that you're kind of wondering about. I know

120that was a pretty long presentation, but there's always some kind of text. What about uh board members who use social media to promote to promote their own agenda? Well, that's a really good question. I'm glad that you asked me and I hope that you have me come in next year because um there is really not an awful lot of guidance on social media itself from the SEC. Um, however, there are cases before the SEC that deal with social media currently. So, we can expect some kind of guidance from them that's uh a little more pointed in the social media direction over the next year. That's what we're hoping for. So, um, in the absence of specific guidance on social media, you need to keep in mind the guidance that's contained in the code, right? and

121apply it to maybe something that was a little bit more low tech that we do have guidance on, which is like letters to the editor sort of thing, right? And just talking to your constituents and talking. First of all, you can never say that you unless you're the board president and authorized by the board and you're carrying the board's message. has been discussed in an open meeting and decided in an open meeting. That's the only message that the president can carry forward or or a board member when you're talking to your constituents, right? I mean, you don't want somebody to ask you what what was this about or what was that and say, "Oh, go call the board president even though you live right next door to them." All right? So, you can do that,

122too. But when we're talking about the media, right, newspaper articles or television, that's contained in your policy. So when you read your policy, uh, you know, you got to kind of look into that and say, where does social media fit in here? And an awful lot of times with a Facebook page, for instance, right, or one of these uh community forums, you have um you're projecting a message to a large group. Is that the role of you or is that the role of the president? It's probably addressed in your policy. We should be familiar with that. Um the other concern that comes forward with with um discussing poor business over social media, I mean there's a bunch of concerns, but one that really rises to the front of my attention is you've got, you know,

123a quorum or more Facebook friends who are on the board, right? Or you can see your discussion that you may well be having with another board member that you're just putting out there. That's counter to the spirit I would say of the open public meetings, right? And especially if there's a discussion going on about a board member about a board, not about a board member about well maybe about a board member but about board business that's dangerous. It's dangerous and it's and then you may have other board members who aren't even friends and can't even see it and they're shut out of the discussion. So that's a concern, too. Um, if you're talking about now, there's another thing like when you're running for reelection, right? >> Absolutely. Lots of people have Facebook pages. They use

124social media to promote themselves and the good things that they did with the board. But that's about you, the individual. And that's kind of that's actually a lot different than just, you know, the board makes a decision and then somebody goes on social media. And I'm not I'm so sorry. I I'm not saying, Terry, that you do this or anything like that. Um but just um and to say you know I completely disagree with the board's decision that we made last night that was irresponsible of us and I expect from this board and blah blah. You know that's not you know your chance to make that speech or to make those feelings known is when the board is discussing the agenda item. Once the board decides you move forward with that decision whether you supported

125it as an individual with your vote or not. It's about board action, not about individual action. An individual doesn't have any authority. You unless you're voting, you exercise your authority with your vote. The major and the majority wins. And if you're in the minority, then you know, it's not like you got to go buy a bunch of pom poms and run around cheering about it. But, you know, you got to support it. You can't circumvent it. That's the work of the court. That's why you're there, you know, and sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't. But, you know, it's all about the boarding. And you know, not to sound corny, but you know, I spend so much time with this thing. It really is about kind of subsuming the individual's identity in with

126that of the board. That's where boards work harmoniously. If you have board members who are more interested in making sure people know how they feel all the time rather than the work of the board and the decisions of the board, it may be less than optimal. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I'm sorry to talk so much, but that's it. But but we'll look at it. Social media is fascinating. It really is something >> to have you come back. and who's that? >> Oh, I'd be happy to. And you know what? There was actually a case that's very interesting just came out of Virginia where um it's not our is a federal case and we're not beholding to it. It's not in our district, but a board member for I think it was a

127county board or something like that had her own Facebook page, her own Facebook page, but this is and uh you know would put posts up like come to our meetings like you know benignish kind of things. And one of her constituents who was a Facebook friend said something that she didn't like that like she I think she said something about come to the school board meeting. It wasn't her board. It was about a school board and the person got on said schoolboard things nasty nasty. It was her post. Someone was commenting on it. She didn't like it. Understandably she took the post down. Just removed it. It's her page. She can do what she wants. Right. Oh no. Not Mr. Constituent. He did not like that. That was his first amendment right to make that

128kind of statement to put it out there. She's using this page in her capacity as a boardman encouraging people to look at this work and that work and go. So he sued her and he prevailed and he prevailed. So that to me made my blood run a little bit colder because that's her personal page. She made the post he started commenting on. She removed the whole thing. I kind of understand her point of view, but on the other side of the coin, why do you got a personal Facebook page that's talking about your board business? Board business on social media should be coming out of the district's Facebook page and then you can share those posts if you want. That's the best practice in my opinion and honestly, you know, we do a lot of

129talking about this with attorneys and, you know, with field service reps and this and that. So if you really want to promote the work of the district or you know for instance if you're you know if you're doing a strategic plan or some kind of community that's fine of course you want to share it but your best bet really is to direct people to your district's Facebook page and one of the methods for doing that of course is to you know take those posts and share them. But if somebody starts negatively commenting on that, you got to be ready for that. And you may, in light of this decision in Virginia, you may want to think twice before taking it down. So in that case, you may want to think twice about doing it on

130your own Facebook page at all. I don't know how that's going to play out in New Jersey, if it ever does, and I'm not sure what the ethics commission is going to say about the cases before it that have to do with social media, but the only thing we got from him so far is a board member called the superintendent the the terrorist on the Facebook and that and imagine that that was wrong. So that's all we got. You know, I mean, I think we could have figured that out on our own. But other questions about anything ethics related? >> I just want to thank you for coming. I'm sorry that it it wound up to be the way it is, but we we you know with the weather. >> Well, thank you for having

131me and thank you for your attention. It really is a pleasure to present that >> and I definitely encourage all everyone here to to take advantage of the New Jersey school board what they offer us the workshops just I I think sometimes just the interaction between the other board members when you network you find sometimes you walk away and say boy I really don't have that bad you shake your head and you say that wasn't really so bad so you know and and it is a learning process I think we all you know >> I would hope So, I mean, you know, you grow it, you grow it, you know, things happen. Sometimes there's issues that you never deal with and then all of a sudden they come along and maybe you handle it the

132wrong way. But, you know, it you do have to move on. And I agree with what you said about moving on. Once the board acts, then we have to move on an active one. >> I I appreciate your comment. >> Thank you guys. And I hope to see you. Did you have a >> I do. uh what would be the process of getting evaluated for where we are in terms of our cert board certification and what it would take to kind of get back to that. >> Board certification is um it's a multi-year process as you probably know and there are a few conditions that you have that are kind of out of your control. One being well it's there's one condition the board turnover affects whether or not you need to reset. So if

133if um a majority of the board turns over during the three years that you're working on this stuff, then you're back to square one, which is not necessarily a bad thing because professional development is excellent. Um we I'm obviously very much in favor of that. Um but you need to get a certain amount of credits, a number of which escapes me at the moment, to become a certified board. You need to have um your policy manual looked at and um labor relations to look at your contract. just what your advice on that within that threeyear time. Um sometimes we have to reset it. You know, board's working on it and then, you know, in year two it turns over between year one and year two it's turned over. The majority is new. We got to

134reset it. Not necessarily the worst thing in the world, but um you know, I just don't want boards to feel bad if if it gets frustrating and pursuitable. >> There there weren't a lot of I I know years ago boards stayed where you were. I mean, I was on the board for 14 years. So, you know, I I understand that this time though the people aren't on the board as long. It's like they go for a term or two and then they change over and that probably has a lot to do with the change over and the certification of the board because you have to have so many hours as a board. >> We do. Yeah. I mean, as a whole, you know, Yeah. I mean, seven members. Like seven members. >> And you do.

135That's another thing. You have an attendance requirement, too. And it's not just a majority, you know, it's out of nine. You need seven hours >> each time. Every time you spend an hour with me, that's one credit. Um, you know, and I remember, you remember I came for a retreat, which would have theoretically made a lot of I know you were there, but we didn't have enough board members for that to count. So, it's I mean I would never discourage anybody from pursuing it. But it is kind of heartbreaking when you've got all these lined up and then they're just no or you know half your board's sick and and you just miss it by one person. So absolutely pursue your professional development. I'm happy to help you. However much it is, but just don't

136you know it's not an indication that you're a bad board if you're not certified. And frankly, um, you know, there are there's this one board that I know is not in my district. They just had a marathon. They had this I can't imagine this. They had, dude, I am not kidding you. Eight >> an 8hour retreat. >> An eight hour retreat to get their certification. I'm not sure after eight hours if anyone's got the brain power to absorb what's going on. So sometimes it's best to take it in small increments. It's different for every board, but you know, >> but there's also as and you're a great examp there are individual levels of certification which are excellent as well >> and I think a lot of us are well certified as board me. I mean

137there are a number of us on the board that had quite a few credits board credits and were certified. I mean I think it was new board members to you know >> I don't did anybody else get that when I called school boards they didn't really they weren't prepared. Yeah they weren't prepared. >> Oh well you were in the first you were the first time they offered it. You were one of the first people to get it actually. That was the first time they offered it. So since then, yeah, more people have been getting it. Um, but it's an achievement. Yeah, absolutely. >> I know that Miss Van Djk and Miss Dwire have been to quite a bit of trainings and they're probably ripen for the certified board members. >> Are you and Mrs. Dwire

138is actually on her second term and she's a school leader, so she might be close to certified board leader. >> Yeah. Well, you know what they it also when you're getting to that advanced level, you need to go to a delegate assembly for the first level and you go then you have to so which is far away. Yeah. And you know what? Yeah. That's why you got like in Mercer County there's not more certified board members than there are in Sussex County. But um and they are actually the department that does that are looking into maybe softening those requirements because it's kind of it's kind of you when you look at the list it's kind of like >> or maybe moving some of those delegate as assemblies up north. >> No, they'll never do that.

139They'll never do that. But but have you been to that facility? It's beautiful. >> Twice. Yeah. >> Yeah. It it does the job beautifully. So you kind of want to keep and it is central um to the state. But I was very thankful that they moved the governance training to Mville that that was just so wonderful for us to not have to go not have to go down South Jersey and I I mean >> four of us went >> and it was a good program too. You didn't have to go at the governance. >> No, I didn't have to go. >> So, but and I and Nicole went which makes it so so much easier to be able to go. You know, you can do it at night after work. Yeah, I and and you

140know my county suss and kind of far away so I get it and I and I advocated for maybe that woman's from >> maybe that's going to help us. >> Well, anyway, 9:45 executive session represent discussing personations, current matters, special we will be from executive session because we have no action. Oh, no. Hi, >> I will be journeying from executive session. >> Anybody have any purple? >> Nice. Okay. Yeah. >> So, Alex and then later the open. Okay. Thank you. Oh, thank you very much. Um, so >> yes.